Connecting multiple electronic devices

ABSTRACT

A data processing system is proposed which comprises two electronic devices, each of them having an electro-magnetic coupler embedded on the exterior casing, at least one of the electronic device having one or more sliding surfaces for directing relative movement between the two devices, such that they automatically come into correct alignment during the sliding.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a data processing system which comprises atleast two electronic devices, and in particular relates to how thedevices are connected to each other for data transfer between them. Oneor both of the electronic devices may be, but are not limited to, mobiledevices such as cameras and smart-phones and corresponding devices suchas display instruments, storage drives and any other devices forprocessing data.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

There are many situations requiring data exchange between devices viaefficient and reliable channels. Conventional means of connectingmultiple devices include using cable or connectors (such as a USBconnection), through which data are communicated. However, wired linksare not compatible with the ever-increasing need for a more convenientand readily establishable connection between two devices. This isbecause it is always necessary to manually align and connect theconnector(s) to the port of the device(s). Wear of the connectors andconnection ports is also a problem.

Besides wired connections, wireless protocol such as Bluetooth andinfrared protocols are also available for data communication between twodevices. Wireless connection channels bring the benefit of simpleconnecting procedures since two devices can conveniently communicatewith each other remotely without any physical connection in between.Thus, no manual alignment of the connector and port is necessary, anddata is communicated through the electro-magnetic (EM) waves travellingfreely through space. On the other hand, since wireless communicationhas less transmission directivity. Energy loss and low transmissionefficiency are a problem for wireless communication over a longdistance. More importantly, there have been increasing concerns aboutthe harmful side effects of such EM emission on the human body.

It is desirable to provide a convenient, wear resistant and hassle-freecommunication channel between electronics devices, eliminatingconnecting wires and their connectors while minimizing EM emissionlosses. Close contact data communication had been explored in recentyears. In this case, two electronic devices are brought in contact witheach other at an intended location to allow the EM couplers located onthe exterior casing of each device to be aligned thereby establishingsurface connection for data communication. However, this usuallyrequires some form of manual alignment between the two devices/couplers.Conventionally, the alignment is achieved either through mechanicalguides or slotted plugs.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a coupling technique such thatwhen a user casually leaves a mobile device such as a camera or asmart-phone on a corresponding device such as a display instrument or astorage drive, two couplers of the respective devices becomeautomatically aligned, without the user consciously aligning the devicesaccurately. As such, robust data communication could be achieved throughthe surface contact.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In general terms, the invention proposes a data processing systemcomprising two electronic devices, each of them having anelectro-magnetic coupler embedded on the exterior casing, at least oneof the electronic device having one or more sliding surfaces fordirecting relative movement between the two devices, such theyautomatically come into correct alignment during the sliding. Thecasings of the devices may be made of plastic.

Specifically, there is provided a data processing system comprising:

-   -   a first electronic device having one or more data processors, a        first casing enclosing said one or more data processors and a        first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler located on said        first casing, and    -   a second electronic device having one or more data processors, a        second casing enclosing said one or more data processors and a        second data transfer electro-magnetic coupler located on said        second casing,    -   at least one of said first and second electronic device        comprising a plurality of sliding surfaces for directing        relative movement between the first and second electronic        devices, at least two of said sliding surfaces being mutually        inclined,    -   wherein upon the first and second electronic devices being urged        together by a force in a direction inclined to at least one said        sliding surface, one of the electronic devices slides along said        at least one said sliding surface to bring said data transfer        electro-magnetic couplers into alignment,    -   whereby said first electronic device is automatically positioned        with respect to said second electronic device and with the        couplers in alignment, and surface connection is established        between the couplers at the point of alignment to enable high        speed data communication between the two electronic devices.

The term “inclined” is given its conventional meaning of “neitherparallel to, nor orthogonal to”. The force being in a direction inclinedto a surface means that the force is in a direction which has an anglegreater than 0 and less than 90° relative to the normal direction of thesurface. Preferably, the angle is in a range from 10° to 80°, or 20° to70°. Two sliding surfaces being mutually inclined means the normaldirections of the two surfaces are neither parallel to, nor orthogonalto each other. A generally non-flat or curved surface is considered tocomprise an infinite number of mutually inclined surfaces.

Typically, the force is the gravitational force that said one of theelectronic devices is subject to.

Unlike a mechanical guide, which defines an unambiguous path along whichthe two devices may approach each other, a sliding surface defines arange of options of such paths. For example, the two devices may becasually brought into contact with each other at any point along thesliding surface, and the sliding surface will direct relative movementbetween the two devices and allow one of them to slide along the otherand stop at an intended location automatically without manualintervention. Advantageously, the couplers located on the casing of twodevices can be brought aligned face to face naturally and automaticallyunder the influence of the weight of the device, without requiringexternal loads, supplementary alignment supports or clamping tools. Suchsurface connection facilitates EM waves to travel between them, whilemaximizing transmission directivity and minimizing radiation leakage.

Typically, each of the first and second electronic devices furthercomprises one or more magnets for generating a component of said force.Typically, the magnets are configured such that the electro-magneticsignals between the couplers are shielded from magnetic interference.

Advantageously, the magnetic attraction between the two deviceseffectively helps bring the electronic devices to full contact at anintended location without using external instrument or mechanicalguides. The attraction further enhances stability of the surfaceconnection between the two couplers.

The sliding surface is typically inclined to the overall profile of thecasing on which it is provided. For example, many casing have agenerally cuboidal profile (convex hull), and the normal direction to atleast one sliding surface is inclined to each face of the cuboid.

In one embodiment, said first electronic device has a planar surface andsaid second electronic device comprises a depression having a slopingside wall and a bottom surface, said side wall and the bottom surfacebeing the sliding surfaces, said depression having a shape configured toreceive said first electronic device.

In another embodiment, said second electronic device comprises a faceand one or more projections projecting therefrom, said face and thesurface of said one or more projections being said sliding surfaces,said sliding surfaces being arranged to stop relative movement of thetwo electronic devices at a position where the two couplers are inalignment when the face is upright. Typically, there are a plurality ofsaid projections, said plurality of elements being arranged in a patternsuitable for said first electronic device to rest thereon when the faceis upright and the couplers are in alignment. Typically, the projectionshave a frustum shape. Typically, the cross-sectional area of saidprojections reduces towards said face.

The term “upright” is given a conventional meaning as being “generallyvertical”. A face being upright generally means the normal of the facehas an angle in the range of 0-20°, or more preferably 0-10° withrespect to the horizontal.

In still another embodiment, said first electronic device comprises aprotrusion having a curved surface and said second electronic devicecomprises a depression having a shape configured to receive saidprotrusion of said first electronic device. Typically, said firstelectronic device comprises a protrusion having a hemispherical shape.Typically, said depression has a smooth concave shape.

In still another embodiment, said first electronic device comprises aprotrusion having a frustum shape and said second electronic devicecomprises a depression having a shape being configured to receive saidprotrusion of the first electronic device. Typically, said depressionhas a frustum shape.

In any of the above embodiments the two couplers may be flat. At leastone sliding surface is typically inclined to the plane of the couplers.

In any of the above embodiments one of the electronic devices may be aportable/mobile electronic device while the other may benon-portable/fixed electronic device. Alternatively, both devices may bemobile devices. Furthermore, the invention is applicable to situationswith additional electronic devices, i.e. three or more devices in total,e.g. a large fixed electronic device receiving two mobile electronicdevices. The electronic devices may ones which are made and soldseparately, e.g. by different manufacturers. Thus, from another point ofview, the invention may be defined as a single electronic device,arranged for connection to a second, and separately provided, electronicdevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

It will be convenient to further describe the present invention withrespect to the accompanying drawings that illustrate embodiments of theinvention. Other embodiments of the invention are possible, andconsequently the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to beunderstood as superseding the generality of the preceding description ofthe invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view shows the cross-section of the dataprocessing system according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the data processing system according toanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 (a) is a schematic view shows the cross-section of the dataprocessing system according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 (b) is a schematic view shows the cross-section of the dataprocessing system that is a modified embodiment based on the thirdembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a data processing system 100 comprising a first dataprocessing device 101 having a first electro-magnetic coupler 102located on the exterior casing of the first device 101, and a seconddata processing device 104 having a second electro-magnetic coupler 106located on the exterior casing of the second device 104. The casing ofthe first device 101 has a planar surface 108 on which the coupler 102is located and the casing of the second device 104 has a depression. Asshown in FIG. 1, the depression has sloping side walls 110, 112 and aplanar bottom surface 114 to receive the first device 101. The sidewalls 110, 112 are inclined to the bottom surface 114. Therefore, when auser casually leaves the first electronic device 102 on any part of thedepression of the second device 104, the first device 101 will slidealong one of the sloping side walls 110, 112 and the bottom surface 114due to gravity and sink to the bottom surface 114. Thus, the twocouplers 102, 106 of the two devices 101, 104 are brought intoface-to-face alignment whereby high speed data communication isestablished at their touching surface. In this embodiment, the slopingside walls 110, 112 and the bottom surface 114 are the sliding surfacesand the side walls 110, 112 are also inclined to the direction of thegravitational force. Preferably, the first device 101 is more compactand lighter than the second device 104. Preferably, the shape and sizeof the bottom surface 114 matches that of the surface 108 of the firstdevice 101. Note that, at least two of the sliding surfaces 110, 112,114 are mutually inclined.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the contactsurface of two devices is upright. A data processing system 200comprises a first data processing device 201 having a firstelectro-magnetic coupler 202 located on the exterior casing the firstdevice 201, and a second data processing device 204 having a secondelectro-magnetic coupler 206 located on the exterior casing the seconddevice 204. The casing of the second device 204 has a generally uprightface 208 on which the coupler 206 is located, and one or moreprojections 210 projecting from the face 208. As shown in FIG. 2, whenthere are a plurality of projection, the projections 210 are arranged ina pattern suitable for the first device to rest thereon when the face208 is upright and couplers 202, 206 are in alignment. The uppersurfaces of the projections are inclined upwards from the horizontaldirection. When a user places the first device 201 on the projections210, the first device 201 will slide downwards along the upper surfacesof the projections 210 due to gravity and eventually stop at an intendedlocation on the face 208. Alternatively, when a user places the firstdevice 201 on the face 208, the first device 201 will first slidedownwards along the face 208 and then be directed to stop at theintended location after sliding along the surfaces of projections 210.As such, the two couplers 202, 206 of the two devices are brought intoalignment whereby high speed data communication is established at theirtouching surface. In this embodiment, the upper surfaces of theprojections 210 and the face 208 are the sliding surfaces. Note that atleast the upper surfaces of the projections 210 are inclined to thedirection of gravitational force. Also, at least two of the slidingsurfaces are mutually inclined.

It should be noted that the multiple projections 210 as shown in FIG. 2are an exemplary illustration of the possibility of having more than oneprojection. It is also possible that the face 208 only has a singleprojection provided it is arranged to direct and stop relative movementof the two electronic devices at the intended location described above.

Preferably, the first device 201 is more compact and lighter than thesecond device 204. The projections 210 may have a frustum shape whosecross-sectional area may reduce towards the face 208. Therefore, theupper surface of the projections 210 collectively form a slope thatallows the first device 201 to slide towards the face 208 of the seconddevice 204 and collectively support the first device 201 thereon.

FIG. 3( a) shows the third embodiment of the invention. It comprises afirst data processing device 301 having a first electro-magnetic coupler302 located on the exterior casing the first device 301 and a seconddata processing device 304 having a second electro-magnetic coupler 306located on the exterior casing the second device 304. The casing of thefirst device 301 comprises a protrusion 308 having a frustum shape andthe casing of the second device 304 comprises a depression having ashape to receive the protrusion 308 of the first device 301. Thedepression may have a frustum shape with sloping side walls 310, 312being inclined to a bottom surface 314. When a user places theprotrusion 308 of the first device 301 onto any part of the depressionof the second device 304, the first device 301 will slide along one ofthe sloping side walls 310, 312 and the bottom surface 314 due togravity and sink to the bottom surface of the depression. In thisembodiment, the side walls 310, 312 and the bottom surface 314 are thesliding surfaces. As such, the two couplers 302, 306 of the two devicesare brought into alignment whereby high speed data communication may beestablished at their touching surface. Advantageously, the weight of thefirst device 301 presses both couplers firmly due to their small surfacecontact area (in contrast to the first embodiment in which the weight ofthe first device 101 is distributed over the whole face 108). At leasttwo of the sliding surfaces 310, 312, 314 are mutually inclined.

FIG. 3( b) shows a slightly modified embodiment from that of FIG. 3( a).In this embodiment, the casing of the first electronic device 301comprises a protrusion 318 having a curved surface which is generallyflat at the bottom, and the casing of the second device comprises adepression having a shape to receive the protrusion 318. The protrusion318 may have a hemispherical shape with a generally flat bottom surfaceand the depression may have a smooth concave shape with a generally flatbottom surface. The diameter of the concave depression may be largerthan that of the hemispherical protrusion 318 except at the bottomsurface. Advantageously, this allows the protrusion 318 to slide alongthe side walls of the depression more gently and smoothly compared tothe embodiment with a frustum-shaped protrusion 308 (as shown in FIG. 3(a)). In this embodiment, the surface profile of the depression isgenerally curved and is thus considered to comprise an infinite numberof mutually inclined sliding surfaces. Optionally, the depth of thedepression matches the height of the protrusion 318. Optionally,depending on the size of the couplers 302, 306, the flat bottom surfaceof the protrusion 318 and the depression can be adjusted such that eachof the couplers 302, 306 fits horizontally in the centre of the bottomsurfaces, respectively.

In any of the above embodiments, each of the first and second devicesmay comprise one or more small magnets thereby providing magneticattraction to further drive relative movement between the two devicesand enhance the stability of the alignment of the two couplers.Preferably, the magnets are configured such that the electro-magneticsignals communicated between the couplers are shielded from magneticinterference due to the magnets. This may be achieved by using anycommon methods of restricting/redirecting magnetic field. For example,at least one metal plate (yoke) can be provided (eg. attached to themagnet) to confine the magnetic flux such that electronic circuitswithin the first and/or second devices can be protected from undesireddisruption. The yoke(s) may be between the magnet and the electroniccircuits. The yoke may be a thin metal plate. In any of the aboveembodiments, the two couplers may be flat.

When the first device is automatically positioned with respect to thesecond device and with the couplers in alignment, surface connection isestablished between the couplers at the point of alignment to enablerobust data communication between the two devices. Both couplers stay infull contact throughout the data communication operation.

The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that disclosedin Singapore Priority Patent Application SG 201203884-0 filed in theIntellectual Property Office of Singapore on May 24, 2012, the entirecontent of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The embodiments have been described by way of example only and it willbe appreciated that various modifications in detail may be made to thedescribed embodiments above without departing from the spirit and scopeof the claims.

1. A data processing system, comprising: a first electronic device having one or more data processors, a first casing enclosing said one or more data processors and a first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler located on said first casing, and a second electronic device having one or more data processors, a second casing enclosing said one or more data processors and a second data transfer electro-magnetic coupler located on said second casing, at least one of said first and second electronic devices comprising a plurality of sliding surfaces for directing relative movement between the first and second electronic devices, at least two said sliding surfaces being mutually inclined, wherein upon the first and second electronic devices being urged together by a force in a direction inclined to at least one said sliding surface, one of the electronic devices slides along said one or more sliding surfaces to bring said data transfer electro-magnetic couplers into alignment, whereby said first electronic device is automatically positioned with respect to said second electronic device and with the couplers in alignment, and surface connection is established between the couplers at the point of alignment to enable high speed data communication between the two electronic devices.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the force is gravitational force that said one of the electronic devices is subject to.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second electronic devices further comprises one or more magnets for generating a component of said force.
 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said magnets are configured such that the electro-magnetic signals communicated between the couplers are shielded from magnetic interference.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first electronic device has a planar surface and said second electronic device comprises a depression having a sloping side wall and a bottom surface, said side wall and bottom surface being the sliding surface, said depression having a shape configured to receive said first electronic device.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second electronic device comprises a face and one or more projections projecting therefrom, said face and the surface of said one or more projections being said sliding surfaces, said sliding surfaces being arranged to stop relative movement of the two electronic devices at a position where the two couplers are in alignment when the face is upright.
 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein there are a plurality of said projections, said plurality of projections being arranged in a pattern suitable for said first electronic device to rest thereon when the face is upright and the couplers are in alignment.
 8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the projections have a frustum shape.
 9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the cross-sectional area of said projections reduces towards said face.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first electronic device comprises a protrusion having a frustum shape and said second electronic device comprises a depression having a shape being configured to receive said protrusion of the first electronic device.
 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said depression has a frustum shape.
 12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first electronic device comprises a protrusion having a curved surface and said second electronic device comprises a depression having a shape configured to receive said protrusion of said first electronic device.
 13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said first electronic device comprises a protrusion having a hemispherical shape.
 14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said depression has a smooth concave shape.
 15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the two couplers are flat.
 16. A first electronic device for connection to a second electronic device, the first electronic device having one or more data processors, a first casing enclosing said one or more data processors and a first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler located on said first casing, said first electronic device comprising a plurality of sliding surfaces for directing relative movement between the first and second electronic devices, at least two said sliding surfaces being mutually inclined, wherein upon the first and second electronic devices being urged together by a force in a direction inclined to at least one said sliding surface, the second electronic device slides along said one or more sliding surfaces to bring said first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler into alignment with a second data transfer electro-magnetic coupler of the second electronic device, whereby said first electronic device is automatically positioned with respect to said second electronic device and with the couplers in alignment, and surface connection is established between the couplers at the point of alignment to enable high speed data communication between the two electronic devices. 